Queens City Council Candidate: Fred Lewis

Running for: City Council, 31st Council District, Queens

Year Running: September 2009 (Democratic Primary)

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Website: http://www.lewisforcouncil2009.com/

Candidate Bio:

Frederick A. Lewis II, most often called Fred and “The Voice”, is a multi-talented product of the Bronx, New York where he was born and raised. He attended New York City Public Schools, achieved a Bachelor’s Degree with a dual major in History and Secondary Education from Queens College and did graduate work in Sociology and Criminal Justice at Fordham University.

Fred has an extensive professional history. He is a career State/City Civil Servant, former Law Enforcement Officer, Substitute Teacher - New York City Board of Education, Administrator, NYS Program Specialist and Chief Executive Officer for several community-based organizations. He has served as an Executive Board Member for a Statewide Labor Union, Union Shop Steward, Professional Announcer and Actor.

Fred served as a Community Planning Board and Area Policy Board member in Far Rockaway and was elected as State Committee Member of Queens County. He served as Deputy Public Advocate for the City of New York under Mark Green and as Special Assistant to Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields. Fred has served as a Political Consultant for local, state-wide and Presidential candidates.

Fred had held various Managerial, Administrative and Senior Advisory positions with several elected officials in the NYS Assembly, Senate and NYC Council. These positions enabled him to acquire extensive experience in government, legislative affairs and practical politics. He served as Political Director for the Mark Green 2001Mayoral campaign and Special Advisor for the C. Virginia Fields 2005 Mayoral campaign.

Fred is also a proclaimed Announcer. He has been the emcee for such performers as: Patti Labelle, Freddy Jackson, Ashford & Simpson, Melba Moore, Chuck Jackson, Lloyd Price, Mighty Sparrow, Bryan Cage, Kim Burrell, Mary Mary, Ray, Goodman & Brown, The Manhattans, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Blue Magic and Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, just to name a few.

Fred has been involved in community and youth related programs since the age of twelve. His early history begins with his involvement at the East Side Settle House- Mill Brook Community Center and extends for the rest of his adult life. He was the founder of the Freddy Lewis Basketball School that prepared promising young athletes for college and athletic scholarships. He worked with neighborhood organizations and civic associations promoting youth programs and special activities for “at risk” young people, conducted education and health related workshops and forums and coordinated voter registration drives.

Fred has received numerous awards for his community and youth service.

Fred’s credo for life comes from the 1994 Inaugural Speech of Nelson Mandela:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
Other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other
People permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Candidate Statement:

“The question is not what I will do when elected but rather, what will we do to govern together in an effort to improve our community and the district!”

I KNOW GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW HOW IT OPERATES.

I HAVE WORKED IN EVERY LEGISLATIVE BODY IN NYS INCLUDING THE SENATE, ASSEMBLY, NYC COUNCIL, NYC BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, AND NYC OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE. I HELD MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN EACH OFFICE.

I HAVE WORKED IN PRESIDENTIAL, MAYORAL AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS .

I HAVE STATEWIDE AND CITYWIDE EXPERIENCE.

I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AS WE KNOW, RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT IN GETTING THINGS DONE.

I WILL BE WALKING INTO THE COUNCIL WITH A PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT.

I CAN AND WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING INSTEAD OF USING MY FIRST TERM LEARNING THE JOB.